Ariana looks up to her elder half-brother, regularly talks about him on social media, and they’re close.

Frankie tells Access Hollywood Live, “I look out for her for sure. There’s a big age difference and I feel like I have to take care of her and often that has become my role in her life. Especially with all of this and growing up and becoming a pop star, it was very trying for our family. We definitely had to stick together and make it work.”

“She is one of the most genuine, talented and hardworking people I have ever seen. I feel like not only has she earned her success, but she so hard working. I’m so proud,” he added.

“When you’re thrust into the public eye at a very young age, so very forcefully, I feel like things start happening that maybe certain people aren’t ready for and without a very supportive and very tight family unit, people start to fall by the wayside, people fall apart. But it actually brought us closer together,” Frankie admitted.

Asked about claims that Ariana is demanding, he continues, “As an artist and when it comes to her art, she always is the person that knows the most. She’s the boss. It’s her art that she wants to put out. When comes to ordering people around, that’s not really how we work, that’s not really how our family works. Everyone does their job. We let them do it, we’re very grateful for everyone that does their job.”

Adding, “With any sort of negative thing that happens to you, or any hurtful remark — obviously we’re human beings, so like you have to take that in,” he told Billy and Kit. “But no, it’s not something that she has to address in her daily life.”